WaterSafe and Severn Trent Water have once again pledged their support for World Plumbing Day, as a time to reflect on how industry can work together to raise plumbing standards in the UK.

Taking place on 11 March, World Plumbing Day aims to promote the important role plumbing plays in the health and safety of modern society.

“Working with WaterSafe, we’re trying to re-focus standards within the plumbing sector by providing recognition for competent plumbers, as well as protecting our customers who need help with plumbing work,” said Lee Rawlings, water fittings engineer for Severn Trent.

“On World Plumbing Day, we’re urging our customers to make sure that the work they have done is to a good standard.  There is a huge issue of homeowners failing to check the credentials of a plumber before getting them in to do work, and this is leaving them vulnerable to a growing number of rogue plumbers.”

This is demonstrated in a recent WaterSafe study which found that a startling 70% of UK householders still don’t check the credentials of a plumber before letting them commence work.  Worse still, the study showed that, for many, choosing a plumber is all about first impressions – with more than half (54%) deeming personal appearance more important than their qualifications. 

Not surprisingly then, WaterSafe estimates bodged plumbing jobs have cost the nation a whopping £2.6 billion in recent years, predominantly down to unqualified, unethical traders.

“As our research shows, there’s still a major issue in consumers continually failing to check the credentials of plumbers, thus leaving them wide open to a growing number of unqualified rogue plumbers,” said Kevin Wellman, director of WaterSafe and executive board member of the World Plumbing Council. “As such, we’d ask all plumbers to continue to push the WaterSafe message among their customers as the easiest way of being assured they are getting a professional, qualified plumber each and every time. That way, we can help to raise the standards of water safety in the UK and continue to be a prime example of good practice on a global level.”

For a list of WaterSafe approved plumbers visit: watersafe.org.uk.